Controlling a physical Relationship between a display and a viewer of the display

Abstract

A method and an apparatus are used with a display. A physical relationship between the display and a viewer of the display is determined, and the physical relationship is monitored to detect when the relationship substantially changes. In response to the detection, the display is automatically positioned to compensate for the change.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for use with a display screen, comprising: 
       determining a physical relationship between the display screen and a viewer of the display screen;  
       detecting when the physical relationship substantially changes; and  
       in response to the detection, automatically positioning the display screen to compensate for the change.  
     
     
       2. The method of claim  1 , wherein the physical relationship includes an angle between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim  1 , wherein the physical relationship includes a distance between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim  1 , wherein the act of positioning includes rotating the display screen to adjust an angle between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim  1 , wherein the act of positioning includes translating the display screen to adjust a distance between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       6. A computer system comprising: 
       a display screen;  
       an assembly to position the display screen;  
       a range finding device; and  
       a computer to:  
       use the range finding device to determine a physical relationship between the display screen and a viewer of the display screen,  
       detect when the physical relationship substantially changes, and  
       in response to the detection, interact with the assembly to position the display screen to compensate for the change.  
     
     
       7. The computer system of claim  6 , wherein the range finding device comprises a camera. 
     
     
       8. The computer system of claim  6 , wherein the physical relationship includes an angle between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       9. The computer system of claim  6 , wherein the physical relationship includes a distance between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       10. The computer system of claim  6 , wherein the movement of the display screen includes rotating the display screen to adjust an angle between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       11. The computer system  6 , wherein the movement of the display screen includes translating the display screen to adjust a distance between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       12. An article comprising a computer readable storage medium that includes instructions to cause a computer to: 
       determine a physical relationship between a display screen and a viewer of the display screen;  
       detect when the physical relationship substantially changes; and  
       in response to the detection, interact with an assembly to position the display screen to compensate for the change.  
     
     
       13. The article of claim  12 , wherein the physical relationship includes an angle between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       14. The article of claim  12 , wherein the physical relationship includes a distance between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       15. The article of claim  12 , wherein the instructions cause the computer to move the display screen by at least rotating the display screen to adjust an angle between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       16. The article of claim  12 , wherein the instructions further cause the computer to move the display screen by at least moving the display screen to adjust a distance between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       17. A method for use with a display, comprising: 
       positioning a display screen on a moveable tray;  
       positioning the tray on a table;  
       determining a physical relationship between the display screen and a viewer of the display screen;  
       detecting when the physical relationship substantially changes; and  
       in response to the detection, automatically moving the tray to reposition the display screen to compensate for the change.  
     
     
       18. The method of claim  17 , wherein the physical relationship includes an angle between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim  17 , wherein the physical relationship includes a distance between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim  17 , wherein the act of moving includes rotating the tray to adjust an angle between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim  17 , wherein the act of moving includes translating the tray to adjust a distance between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       22. A computer system comprising: 
       a moveable tray to be placed on a table;  
       a display screen located on the tray;  
       a range finding device; and  
       a computer to:  
       use the range finding device to determine a physical relationship between the display screen and a viewer of the display screen,  
       detect when the physical relationship substantially changes, and  
       in response to the detection, move the tray to reposition the display screen to compensate for the change.  
     
     
       23. The computer system of claim  22 , wherein the range finding device comprises a camera. 
     
     
       24. The computer system of claim  22 , wherein the physical relationship includes an angle between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       25. The computer system of claim  22 , wherein the physical relationship includes a distance between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       26. The computer system of claim  22 , wherein the computer moves the tray to rotate the display screen to adjust an angle between the display screen and the viewer. 
     
     
       27. The computer system of claim  22 , wherein the computer moves the tray to translate the display screen to adjust a distance between the display screen and the viewer.